STS-51-C
First dedicated classified Department of Defense Shuttle mission
STS-51-C was the first Space Shuttle mission dedicated entirely to a Department of Defense payload. Discovery carried a classified spacecraft and Inertial Upper Stage into orbit with a five-person military and NASA crew; most payload details and orbital operations remained classified.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- January 24, 1985
- Landing
- January 27, 1985
- Mission duration
- 3d 01h 33m
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- STS-51-C flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Discovery
- Mission type
- Department of Defense mission
- Crew and station travelers
- 5
- Program
- Space Shuttle
- Crew complement
- 5
- Outcome
- Completed
- Archive classification
- Human spaceflight
- Primary objective
- First dedicated Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission.
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
5 assignments
Ellison S. Onizukaprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched January 24, 1985Returned January 27, 19853d 01h 33mMission Specialist aboard STS-51-C flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Gary Paytonprime crewPayload SpecialistLaunched January 24, 1985Returned January 27, 19853d 01h 33mPayload Specialist aboard STS-51-C flight stack.Open astronaut archive
James F. Buchliprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched January 24, 1985Returned January 27, 19853d 01h 33mMission Specialist aboard STS-51-C flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Loren J. Shriverprime crewPilotLaunched January 24, 1985Returned January 27, 19853d 01h 33mPilot aboard STS-51-C flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Thomas Kenneth Mattingly IIprime crewCommanderLaunched January 24, 1985Returned January 27, 19853d 01h 33mCommander aboard STS-51-C flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
3 sources- Launch Discovery and its crew safely into .
- First dedicated Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission.
- Complete the mission's assigned payload, , research, deployment, servicing, or logistics work.
- Return Discovery and the landing crew safely to Earth.
Planned Flight Plan
3 sources- Ascent
Discovery launch
STS-51-C was planned to launch from Kennedy Space Center aboard its mission-specific shuttle stack.
- On orbit
Primary mission operations
First dedicated Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission.
- Entry and landing
return
Discovery was scheduled to deorbit, reenter, and complete an unpowered runway landing.
- January 24, 1985
STS-51-C launches
STS-51-C flight stack departs Kennedy Space Center and enters the planned orbit.
Mission Timeline
3 sources- January 24, 1985
Launch
Discovery began the first dedicated Department of Defense Shuttle mission.
- On orbit
Classified deployment
The crew deployed the defense payload and its Inertial Upper Stage.
- Mission operations
Classified work
Operational details were withheld while the crew completed assigned objectives.
- January 27, 1985
Landing
Discovery returned to Kennedy Space Center after three days.
Open operation record